last year, thousands of nevadans attended a free housing asstance event in las vegas, sponsored by our own department "home mns nevada." ustry, called at the comprehensive event, over 250 presentatives from banks met with homeowns and provided help on the spot. while many nevadans received assistance at the evt, we must continue to do more. working with attorney general katherine cortez masto, my administration will use multistate settlement funds to assist nevadans who have bee hardest hit by the housing crisis. we are obligated as leaders to find ways to keep people in their homes and families together. and i will use every available means at my disposal to protect and help the people who fight every day to stay in their most importt possession, their home. [applause] the recession has hurt the entire nevada family. state employees have seen their pay cut and have been requed to take unpaid furlough days. tonight, i am announcing that we will be able to provide some relief tthem as well. merit pay will be restored for state employees beginning on july 12014, and the number of require